Pilot Killed in Twentynine Palms Crash

Maj. Richard Norton, a pilot with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 232, died when his single-seat F/A-18C Hornet crashed during a July 28 training mission at Twentynine Palms Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Calif. Norton, 26, of Arcadia, Calif., was attached to Marine Aircraft Group 11, based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif. He was a veteran a tour of Afghanistan in 2012 and also deployed numerous times to Japan during his career. The cause of the crash is under investigation.